Streateries around Port Townsend’s Uptown and downtown districts are set to stay until the end of 2022 after the city council unanimously approved a temporary extension of the open-air, tent-like structures in a meeting last week.

The temporary streateries have been extended three times already by the city council.

The future of permanent downtown streateries is yet to be determined, however, as the council is set to do a third, and potentially final, review and approval of the city’s long-term plan for the outdoor dining tents.

The city council agreed to hold a third reading of its ordinance for permanent outdoor dining areas at a meeting later in May.

AMENDMENTS GALORE

At the council’s last business meeting, council members approved amendments that center on the permitting process for streateries. The amendments included one that would prohibit the dining structures in Port Townsend’s historic downtown.

One amendment to the ordinance for obtaining a permit would involve eliminating the Historic Preservation Committee’s review of streateries, as well as additional examinations of the dining structures outside of Port Townsend’s historic area.

Other key amendments involve:

• Adding a notice to property owners living within 300 feet of a potential outdoor dining tent;

• Removing the daily cleaning requirement for streatery permit holders,

• Striking down a requirement that restaurants need the approval of the property owner where their business is located to obtain a permit; and

• Additional housekeeping fixes to the ordinance.

The decision from the Port Townsend City Council to set up a permitting process for streateries in downtown and Uptown, and continue with potentially establishing a long-term program to set up permanent outdoor dining tents, has been controversial among local residents.

Critics of the outdoor, tent-like structures have said that they are an eyesore, take away much-needed parking spots in town, and are potential safety hazards for pedestrians and diners.

Supporters of the structures say they benefit Port Townsend’s tourism economy by giving a “European-style” look to downtown and Uptown, along with promoting community connection among residents as a safe dining option for citizens that are susceptible to COVID.

CRITICISM CONTINUES

Controversy on the outdoor eateries continued through the council’s first May meeting, with multiple members of the public sharing concerns about parking and a negative impact on downtown.

“The most befuddling aspect of this manufactured consent approach to the street-eateries is the complete lack of attention given to a solution for the parking problem,” wrote transit advocate Michele Gransgaard.

“A continuously running shuttle from the park & ride to downtown would eliminate a great deal of the parking demand. If done right, it could actually be an attraction for people to visit downtown. It could also serve as a marketing tool to bring visitors to Port Townsend,”  Gransgaard added. “Haven’t the downtown businesses endured enough abuse? Isn’t it time to work on solutions and not create more problems for them?”

Kirin White, a downtown resident since 2014, recalled earlier sights of “fiery conflicts between drivers downtown, competing for parking spaces.”

“It amazes me the city of Port Townsend and the city council want this to be a tourist town and they want downtown to be carless, but apparently they have never ridden the buses daily.”

Residents expect to be able to use, and park, their cars.

“There is no reason why in order to save the planet, elderly and disabled people must be forced to give up their vehicles in downtown Port Townsend. We are better as a society than this, and we are certainly better as a city, than this,” White wrote.

Donald Mazzola of Port Townsend wrote to the council that streateries made sense during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The presence of streateries should be tied to the level of presence of COVID in our community,” Mazzola continued. “The pandemic is still very much with us therefore the streateries should continue to be allowed as long as the virus remains at certain levels (as determined by our county health department).

“I am opposed to the continuation of steateries once the pandemic reaches specific, safer levels,” he added. “They are unsightly and unfairly take up parking spaces needed by non-restaurant businesses.”

Lois Venarchick, a downtown worker for 40 years, called the curbside dining areas “dilapidated, unattractive shanties that take up our valuable parking spaces. All aimed, with prejudice at restaurants. Restaurants get the spaces, up to one per block to serve food outdoors in a place that has weather, that for a majority of a year’s months, is inclement for outdoor dining.

“What about retail shops? Do we not also matter?” Venarchick asked.

“My husband and I moved here 21 years ago,” wrote Karen Farr of Port Townsend. “Since that time, we have seen the downtown parking diminish by several hundred parking spots. I don’t know how any businesses stay open.

Do not let the streateries become permanent!

“We need MORE parking — not less. This is an insane idea. Uptown is no better - eat inside. The pandemic is over,” Farr added. “What with having only one ferry coming into town how does anyone stay in business. This is the most unfriendly business council imaginable.”

COUNCIL APPROVES FEES

Additionally, the city council voted to unanimously approve an extension for the current, temporary outdoor dining structures in Uptown and downtown Port Townsend.

Also during the meeting, councilmembers unanimously approved another resolution for establishing street-use permit fees for streateries.

The base fee established by the resolution for permanent streateries is $2,550 per month, along with an annual fee of $8.57 per square foot of space, and a $170 annual renewal fee for permit-holders.

The outdoor-dining structures were originally set up in town as a temporary replacement for safe dining spots during the coronavirus pandemic over the past two years. The temporary tents in Uptown and downtown will continue to be in operation for the rest of 2022.

The city-sponsored Port Townsend Main Street Program and the city’s Historic Preservation Committee both collected feedback from residents and business owners on the outdoor dining spots over the past two years to present to the city council as part of the potential long-term streatery plan, according to the city of Port Townsend.